Top 5 Hamburgers

Bongo,

I'd be happy to make the run wherever you've got free time hit dinner or lunch.

For Sushi, we've got quite a few good places here in the Lomita/Torrance area due to the large Japanese population of Honda and Toyota executives from their Torrance/North America headquarters.

For something different, try Kotosh in Lomita on PCH. They serve Peruvian Sushi - yes, the hybrid made famous by Nobu Matsuhisa. They've got traditional Japanese style sushi and an ungodly assortment of rolls. But, the Peruvian dishes seem to specialize in the sauces or marinades that accompany the fish/food. Many of them a flavorful variations of Yuzu and Ponzu sauces, but then they have this Special Spicy Mayonaise, Garlic, Lime and Soy Sauce that is served with several dishes like sushi and their fried rice - it is amazing. Their other Peruvian dishes like noodles, rice, seafood all very good. There are so many things on the menu, that it's best to go with 3-4 people so you get a wide variety of things to share.

My favorite in LA used to be Sushi Sasabune on Sawtelle in Santa Monica, but they moved to a much larger location on Wilshire Blvd after 15 years and quality has gone down and price up, significantly.

For good time, Terried Kitchen on Santa Monica Blvd, just west of the 405 fwy is my mainstay. Sushi is decent, but it's their grilled vegetables and Isakaya that help make it such a good meal. A couple can get out of there $50-70 and have a good meal.

My favorites in Houston, like you I travel a lot for work, and I would put Houston right at the top along with San Fran (all No Cal really) and New York for food towns. There's a lot of disposible income in Houston due to low cost of living and lots of big business (energy, medical, technology, banking) and it's too hot to be outside for about 8 months, so everyone goes out to eat!!

Top Tier Restaurants:

Brennans

DeMarco

Nino's

Cafe Annie

Mark's on Westhiemer (my fav)

Churrascos

L'Combe D'Or

Steak Houses:

Pappas Brothers

Vic and Anthony's

TexMex or Mexican:

Lupe Tortillas

Goode Co Taqeuria

Pappasitos (Little Pappsitos on Kirby is my fav)

El Tiempo

Ninfas (only the original on Navigation)

Seafood:

Goode Co Seafood

Pappadeaux

Vietnamese:

Nit Noi

Mediterrainian:

Niko Niko's

Ya Ya Mary's

There are lots of great Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants around town, we have huge immigrant populations from those countries. I usually just go along with my buddies to their mom and pop favorites where you need to speak the languages, and eat what they order for me at those spots. If you ever have interest in those, I can get recommendations on those too.

Come now before the heat starts back up next month!!

Texas boys: Are Earl Campbell's "Earl The Pearl" hot links and sausages still as good as I remember them ~15 years ago? I passed through Austin working on a US tour and was simply blown away at his links. I see that he's got a few restaurants now, too. How's the food at them?

Mac Dad: impressive list to make a dent into. D Mob: shoot me an email and we can personally connect. Would love to meet up.

This best burger OP has gone off the rails, but that's cool by me since catering, F&B, fine dining, hotels, etc. were my life for thirty + years. Following up on the sushi posts ,my late wife and I used to rent in Calabasas and we really dug Shibuya over by the post office. Very special, no shortcuts taken sauces/dips/salads and of course their fish. This was back in the mid-1990's. I haven't been back to that area in ages, but an old acquaintance in L.A. tells me that most every place I loved has gotten pricey since my stay.